ROSS TOWNSHIP, MI -- Ross Township Supervisor Jeffrey Bither is facing opposition in the Republican primary on Aug. 7 and there also is a contested race for the four trustee seats on the ballot.

Bither faces Thomas Idzkowski.

Bither, 66, has been supervisor since 2003 and served on the township board since 1998. He has a degree in culinary business administration, and before serving as supervisor he worked in the private sector as a salesman of computer software for local governments.

"Experience counts," Bither said when asked why he should be re-elected. "I've been doing this thing for nine years."

Idzkowski did not respond to a Kalamazoo Gazette candidate questionnaire.

The supervisor's position is full time and pays $42,500.

There are five candidates for four trustee seats in northeastern Kalamazoo County's Ross Township. The candidates are incumbents Sid Durham, Diana Langshaw, Owen Murray and Jon Scott and challenger Christian Chojnowski.

The winners in the supervisor and trustee races will advance to the November ballot, where there is no Democratic opposition.